You'd think that since 25% of Harvard has LSATs below 170, and not all of them can be URMs, then the ones who are getting in have ridiculously high GPAs...sheesh.

Dude.

He's one applicant. To the casual observer, it seems like you're automatically assuming he didn't get in because of his LSAT score when in fact (no offense to him because this might not be the case) maybe he didn't get in because of his PS, LORs, lack of soft factors, etc, etc, etc.

Numbers are the most important factor when applying to law school. This surely isn't a revelation to anyone on this board. High numbers are an almost surefire way to get into most top schools. This, also, is not a revelation to anyone on this board.

I think it's kind of silly to assume, however, that they are the one and only way to get into top schools... are the majority of admits at these schools applicants with high numbers? Yes, duh... we've known this all along. Does that mean that nobody without high numbers gets in? Not necessarily

Just because HLS rejected one 169 / 3.9 applicant does not mean they won't accept several others with identical numbers

Numbers are the most important factor when applying to law school. This surely isn't a revelation to anyone on this board. High numbers are an almost surefire way to get into most top schools. This, also, is not a revelation to anyone on this board.

I think it's kind of silly to assume, however, that they are the one and only way to get into top schools... are the majority of admits at these schools applicants with high numbers? Yes, duh... we've known this all along. Does that mean that nobody without high numbers gets in? Not necessarily

Just because HLS rejected one 169 / 3.9 applicant does not mean they won't accept several others with identical numbers

true- but good luck with a 155/3.1

there is a certain cutoff- i dont care how many times you have saved the world, if you dont have very good numbers you will not touch HYS

Numbers are the most important factor when applying to law school. This surely isn't a revelation to anyone on this board. High numbers are an almost surefire way to get into most top schools. This, also, is not a revelation to anyone on this board.

I think it's kind of silly to assume, however, that they are the one and only way to get into top schools... are the majority of admits at these schools applicants with high numbers? Yes, duh... we've known this all along. Does that mean that nobody without high numbers gets in? Not necessarily

I'm not doubting that. But if you look at what their soft factors are, they tend to be pretty quantifiable.

I'm not exactly sure what your point is. (I'm not trying to be a smartass or anything, I'm just kind of drunk and I don't really get it)

He's one applicant. To the casual observer, it seems like you're automatically assuming he didn't get in because of his LSAT score when in fact (no offense to him because this might not be the case) maybe he didn't get in because of his PS, LORs, lack of soft factors, etc, etc, etc.

Possibly. But the more I hang out around here and follow LSN, the more convinced I am that it's a numbers game.

Hell, if anyone had ever bothered to read my PS I would have been auto-ding everywhere, especially NYU.

I'm sure some people with my numbers will get in, but all in all, I agree with Lily's assertion that it is mostly a numbers game. I had good to great LORs, and very good soft factors....but then again I think everyone who applies to HYS has these. It is possible that they didn't like my personal statement, but I think it was mostly my LSAT working against me. Oh well, ce la vie... time to move on and embrace the schools that already love me.